TREKKING WITH GREAT PRIMATES
8 DAYS – RWANDA, AFRICA
Tour Details
This is the primate trip we’ve always wanted to build, the one that combines everything photographers dream about in Rwanda, in one beautifully paced itinerary.
Yes, we’ll do the iconic experience: trekking into the volcanic bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park for two separate days with wild mountain gorillas, a subject so powerful and intimate it can feel like time stops. But this trip goes further.
We begin in the ancient rainforest of Nyungwe National Park, home to one of Africa’s most biodiverse primate strongholds. Here we’ll spend two days tracking chimpanzees. These animals are fast, expressive, social, and endlessly photogenic. Chimp trekking is a completely different rhythm than gorillas: more dynamic, more vocal, more action. Add in an included Colobus monkey hike (and the chance for striking composition with movement and group behavior), and you’ve got a primate portfolio that looks like it came from multiple expeditions—not one week.
Then we transition north to the Virunga mountains where the dream sequence continues: two gorilla treks, plus a golden monkey trek to close, an energetic, colorful finale in lush bamboo that’s pure fun to photograph.
Aaron has led gorilla trekking trips for many years, and that experience matters here. These encounters are rare, permits are limited, and the best moments happen fast. Each day we’ll brief the plan, talk settings and technique for rainforest light, and then come back together to review images and help you refine your approach, so you don’t just see these animals, you come home with photographs you’re proud of.
Important: This trip sold out in less than 24 hours. A cancellation has created one newly available spot.
Most images shown are from our Mountain Gorilla treks. This is the first year we’ve added chimpanzee and colobus monkey experiences, so you won’t see those subjects represented in this gallery yet.
Tour Video
All footage in this video was filmed by Aaron on our Trekking with Mountain Gorillas Photo Tour in 2022. While every departure is unique, this video offers a realistic look at the kinds of encounters you can expect on this Photo Tour.
Testimonials
“Aaron Baggenstos is one of those rare individuals who is super-talented with photographic, instructional, as well as superb people skills. Combined with his cutting edge technological approach to photographing nature, his advocacy of the environment and his sheer methodological genius, he sets himself apart from his peers. This is a young man who is definitely leading the photographic revolution in nature and I count myself amongst the lucky ones who have learned more in one week than I have in one year with other photographic instructors and courses. The aurora still shines brightly from one of the most fantastic photo tours I have ever participated in. In large measure, it is directly related to the the sage-like wisdom of Aaron.”
Highlights:
- Experience one of the top wildlife experiences on earth, photographing endangered wild mountain gorillas in the jungles of Volcanos National Park
- The ultimate Rwanda primates portfolio in one trip: 2 chimp treks + 2 mountain gorilla treks + 1 golden monkey trek + Colobus hike
- Two full days with chimpanzees in Nyungwe, behavior, interaction, action, and storytelling moments
- Two separate mountain gorilla trekking days, more chances for ideal positioning, cleaner backgrounds, and standout behavior
- Daily photo coaching: field strategy, low-light autofocus tips, exposure approaches in rainforest shade, and image review/editing support
- Small-group experience with private local guides, built around maximizing photographic opportunities, not rushing schedules
Tour Info:
Dates: October 20-27, 2026 (Sold Out)
Group Size: 7 Participants
2026 Cost: $13,195 per person ($1,695 Single Supplement)
Payment Terms: 25% Non-Refundable Deposit, Rest Due at 180 Days Before Departure
You can join the wait list for any sold out trip here.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive at Kigali International Airport. Private transfer to our hotel.
Evening: group introductions, a short welcome briefing, and dinner together.
Overnight: Kigali Serena Hotel
Day 2: Early morning domestic flight from Kigali to Kamembe, then scenic drive to Nyungwe.
Afternoon: Colobus monkey hike, a great warm-up for primate photography in the magical forests.
Overnight: Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge.
Day 3: Early start for our first chimp trek in Nyungwe. Expect a lively, energetic experience, chimp vocalizations often echo through the forest before we see them.
Afternoon at leisure: rest, download, and optional photo review/processing time.
Overnight: Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge
Day 4: Second chimp trek, another chance to refine your strategy and come home with stronger variety (behavior, interaction, environmental portraits).
Afternoon: optional birding/forest time if conditions are good.
Overnight: Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge
Day 5: Drive north toward the Virunga mountains (packed lunch en route).
Late afternoon: We will visit the incredible Ellen DeGeneres Campus.
Evening: settle in and prepare for gorilla trekking.
Overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Day 6: The main event begins: first mountain gorilla trek.
After the trek: lunch, rest, and photo review/editing support.
Overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Day 7: Second mountain gorilla trek, a fresh permit, a new day, and new possibilities.
This is often where photographers create their favorite frames of the trip.
Overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Day 8: Morning: golden monkey trek, fast, playful, and wonderfully photographic.
After lunch: drive back to Kigali for evening international departures.
Physical Requirement:
The treks to the primates vary from day to day. Sometimes the hike can be as short as 30 minutes, but more commonly it’s about 1–2 hours each way at a comfortable, steady pace. Trails can be uneven, occasionally steep, and muddy or slippery depending on weather.
The good news: we’ve been leading these trips for many years, and with a reasonable level of fitness—and a little preparation—our guests consistently do great. If you can comfortably walk/hike for a couple of hours and are willing to do some training ahead of time, you’re likely a good fit for this adventure.
Most treks may involve 800–1,000 feet of elevation gain, and gorilla trekking often takes place around 8,500 feet (or higher). We strongly recommend arriving in your best shape so you can enjoy the experience and focus on photography.
Leader
In the last 10 years Aaron has led over 200 wildlife photography tours around the world. He has earned a reputation for his gracious teaching style to photographers of all skill levels and extensive knowledge of Nikon, Canon, Panasonic, Olympus, and Sony digital cameras.